Category: Sale Recaps

Records fell Sunday night at the New York Bred Yearlings sale as the sale posted the highest gross, average, and median in its history. Highlights of the successful renewal include a $600,000 Pioneerof the Nile colt, the most expensive yearling ever sold at this sale, and a $450,000 daughter of American Pharoah, who set a record price for a filly.

“It was a tremendous night,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “The last half of the session tonight was just electric.”

Hip 588, the session- and sale-topping colt by Pioneerof the Nile, sold for $600,000 midway through the night (video). Shortleaf Stable purchased the record colt from the consignment of his breeder, Jonathan Thorne of Thorndale Farm. The bay colt is a half-brother to three winners, two of them stakes horses, out of Score, a daughter of A.P. Indy out of multiple Grade 1 winner and millionaire Educated Risk, from the immediate family of champion Inside Information. The sale replaced the previous record, set last year when a colt by Cairo Prince sold for $500,000.

The session’s top filly was Hip 573, a daughter of Into Mischief out of stakes winner Risky Rachel, who sold for $350,000 to Kindred Stables from the consignment of Paramount Sales, agent (video). The filly is the second foal out of Risky Rachel, whose first foal, a colt by Scat Daddy, sold for $1,000,000 at The Gulfstream Sale in March to Todd Pletcher, agent for M.V. Magnier from the consignment of SGV Thoroughbreds, agent. The only filly to sell for more at this year’s sale was record-setting daughter of American Pharoah (Hip 329), sold during the first session for $450,000.

Browning remarked on the achievements of what he called the “taproot families” of the New York breeding program: Jonathan Thorne, who bred and consigned the sale topper, and the Nielsens’ Sunnyfield Farm, who bred the record filly. “[Thorne] and his family [have been] longtime supporters and advocates and one of the foundational families… of the New York marketplace. “That would be a good trivia question: Who’s been breeding in New York longer, the Nielsens or the Thornes?”

The success of New York-breds has been in the spotlight in recent years, with the richest New York-bred of all time, Mind Your Biscuits, winning the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) twice in the United Arab Emirates; Diversify winning the Whitney S. (G1) just down the road from the pavilion; and top runners like Florida Derby (G1) winner Audible and millionaire Fourstar Crook keeping the lucrative state-bred program in the headlines. Those four superstars are all recent graduates of the New York Bred Yearlings sale.

“There were certainly some new names on the results that hadn’t been active previously in the New York-bred marketplace,” added Browning. “I think that’s a direct result the [accomplishments of] New York-breds all over the world.”

Overall, 172 yearlings sold for $18,492,000, up 14.0% from last year, when 182 changed hands for a total of $16,214,000. The average of $107,512 represented a 20.7% increase from $89,088 in 2017, while the $76,000 median rose 9.4% from $69,500. The gross, average, median, and top price were all sale records, eclipsing the records set at last year’s renewal. Thirty yearlings sold for $200,000 or more, up from 16 in 2017. The top filly replaced a record set in 2013, when a filly by Tapit sold for $430,000.

The first session of the 2018 New York Bred Yearlings sale ended Saturday night with increases in gross and average over the first session last year, and a record for a filly sold at this sale toppled by a daughter of popular first crop sire American Pharoah.

The session topper was Hip 329, a filly from the first crop of Triple Crown hero American Pharoah who set a New York Bred Yearlings sale record price for a filly when sold for $450,000 to Hartley/De Renzo from the consignment of Summerfield, agent for Sunnyfield Farm (video). The leading filly, bred by Joanne T. Nielson, is a half-sister to four winners, including two stakes winners, out of the Disrtored Humor mare Visions of Annette. That mare is also a half-sister to Jewel of the Night, dam of multiple Grade 1 winning millionaire Evening Jewel, and to Maggie McGowan, who produced Grade 1 winner Denman’s Call.

“We saw continued strength at the upper end of the market tonight,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “The average over $100,000 [is] a record for any night of the New York Bred sale.”

The session’s top colt was Hip 384, a son of Ghostzapper, purchased for $400,000 by Tracy Farmer from the consignment of Thomas J. Gallo III Sales Agency, agent (video). The colt, bred by Anjes Farm, is the second foal out of Clear Pasaj, a multiple stakes winner by Smoke Glacken, and is from the immediate family of champion Gentle Thoughts and Grade/Group 1 winners Junius, Treizieme, and Bequest.

“There continues to be significant demand for what are perceived to be the higher quality offerings,” added Browning. “It’s still a selective marketplace and we’re going to see that selectivity continue all year long. I think we’ll continue to see strong demand for most of the horses.”

Overall, 80 New York-bred yearlings changed hands for $8,326,000, up 2.1% from last year’s first session, when 93 yearlings sold for $8,155,000. The average was $104,075, up 18.7% from $87,688 during the first session in 2017, while the median held steady at $75,000. Thirteen yearlings sold for $200,000 or more, up from six during the first session last year.

The New York Bred Yearlings sale continues August 12, 2018 at 6:30 PM.

The Saratoga Sale closed Tuesday night with across-the-board gains, posting the highest gross, co-highest median, and second-highest average in sale history.

Hip 196, a colt by Medaglia d’Oro took the lead midway through the session, selling for $1,350,000 to the partnership of West Point Thoroughbreds, Robert Masiello, Chris Larsen, and Siena Farm from the consignment of Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent (video). The colt is the first foal out of the stakes winning Wildcat Heir mare Coco’s Wildcat, from the immediate family of champion Songbird, who sold for $400,000 at the 2014 edition of this sale.

“I’m pleased to report that the 2018 Saratoga Sale established a new record for gross sales,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “It doesn’t happen without the trust and confidence of the best breeders, best pinhookers, [and] best consignors in the world.”

Hip 204, a Medaglia d’Oro half-sister to classic winner Exaggerator was the top filly, purchased for $1,300,000 by Phoenix Thoroughbreds from the consignment of Warrendale Sales, agent (video). The dark bay or brown filly is out of stakes placed winner Dawn Raid, by Vindication, responsible for three winners, including 2016 Preakness S. (G1) winner Exaggerator. That horse was a multiple Grade 1 winner at three and a multiple graded stakes winner at two, and retired with earnings of nearly $3.6 million.

Medaglia d’Oro set the pace during the second session, accounting for all three of the top yearlings sold on Tuesday. The son of El Prado (IRE) sired seven Grade 1 winners in 2017 – a North American record matched only by breed-shaping sires Danzig, Mr. Prospector, and Storm Cat – including Saratoga Sale graduates Songbird and Bolt d’Oro and Breeders’ Cup champions Talismanic and Bar of Gold. At this year’s Saratoga Sale, he was responsible for seven yearlings sold for $5,495,000, with an average and median of $785,000 and $635,000, respectively. Only War Front, with two yearlings sold from two offered, boasted a higher average ($787,500).

In addition to the top colt and filly, Medaglia d’Oro sired Hip 143, a filly out of Veracity from the family of her sire’s multiple Grade 1 winning millionaire Elate, was purchased for $1,000,000 by Lael Stable from the consignment of Indian Creek, agent (video). A colt and filly by first crop sire American Pharoah also sold for seven figures yesterday, bringing the total of million-dollar yearlings at this year’s sale to five, up from two sold at that threshold in 2017.

American Pharoah’s first crop of yearlings continued to be in high demand during the second session, and he led his sire class by gross and average over the course of the sale, with 10 of 12 sold for $5,435,000, averaging $552,500 each. Verrazano also retained his first session advantage over first crop two-year-old sires of 2018, with three offered and sold for $1,050,000, good for an average of $350,000.

The Fasig-Tipton family was missing a member this year, as it was the first Saratoga Sale without the late Bill Graves, whose horsemanship and innovation shaped the growth of the Saratoga Sale since the early 1990’s. He was actively inspecting and recruiting yearlings for the sale this spring, working tirelessly to put this year’s Saratoga catalogue together up until his passing on May 30.

“[A record-breaking sale] doesn’t happen without a tremendous team,” said Browning. “I think we have the best team in the world at Fasig-Tipton, across the board. It’s a collection of people who truly care about the business, about the company, about the people we sell for, and about it each other. We were obviously missing, in person, a key member of our team. But I think he was with us. He was with us throughout the selection process, helped put the catalogue together. It’s humbling. It’s invigorating. We’re proud of the accomplishment.”

Over the two sessions, 170 yearlings sold for a total of $62,794,000, up 18.5% from $52,995,000 in 2017 and eclipsing the record of $62,412,000 set in 2001. The average was $369,376, an increase of 8.7% over $339,712 last year, and second in sale history only to the 2001 record of $385,259. The median matched last year’s record high of $300,000. The RNA rate was 21%.

First crop sire and Triple Crown champion American Pharoah was responsible for the top two prices at The Saratoga Sale on Monday evening. A graduate of the 2013 Saratoga Sale, American Pharoah’s first crop yearlings were highly anticipated, and they did not disappoint.

The session topper was a $1,200,000 daughter of American Pharoah out of multiple Grade 1 winner Life At Ten (video), who benefited from a major update when her two-year-old half-sister Bohemian Queen (Animal Kingdom) broke her maiden first time out at Woodbine earlier in the day. Sold as Hip 26, the bay filly was the first yearling to reach seven figures and held her lead over the rest of her class throughout the session. Hip 26 was purchased by Larry Best’s OXO Equine from the consignment of Gainesway, agent.

“[It] was a very encouraging start to the sale tonight,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “We thought we had good horses, and buyers responded favorably across the board.”

The top priced colt Hip 62, also by American Pharoah, who sold for $1,000,000 from the consignment of Summerfield Sales, agent for Sunnyfield Farm (video). He was purchased by Bob Baffert, agent for MV Magnier. The colt is a New York-bred out of Party Silks, whose most notable offspring is multiple Grade 2 winning millionaire Upstart, a graduate of the 2012 New York Bred Yearlings sale.

Hip 62 | Fasig-Tipton Photo

Well-related fillies were in hot demand during the first session, accounting for seven of the top 10 prices on the evening. Fillies from rich family and half-sisters to Grade 1 winners were popular, with three selling for $850,000 or more, including session topping Hip 26; Hip 82, a $950,000 daughter of Into Mischief from the family of Broodmare of the Year Better Than Honour purchased by OXO Equine from the consignment of Denali Stud, agent; and Hip 39, a $850,000 Curlin filly out of a half-sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Liam’s Map and graded stakes winning juvenile Not This Time purchased by White Birch Farm from the consignment of Lane’s End, agent.

“We had some spectacular fillies on offer tonight. It may have been kind of filly heavy tonight, and I think we’ve probably got a stronger colt group tomorrow,” Browning noted. “The buyers are demanding quality whether it happens to be colts or fillies and are willing to give significant prices for both colts and fillies.”

Half-siblings to Grade 1 winners also sold well on the night, led by Hip 93, a Candy Ride (ARG) half-sister to champion Classic Empire which sold for $775,000 to John C. Oxley, who campaigned Classic Empire, from the consignment of Bluewater Sales, agent; Hip 27, a War Front half-sister to 2012 Saratoga Sale grad and two-time champion Tepin which sold for $750,000 to Solis/Litt from the consignment of Eaton Sales, agent; and Hip 105, a $750,000 Verrazano half-sister to recent Test S. (G1) winner Separationofpowers purchased by Bridlewood Farm from the consignment of Bluewater Sales, agent.

American Pharoah was the session’s leading first crop sire with six of seven sold for an average of $536,667 ($3,200,000 gross). Verrazano led second crop sires with two of two sold for an average of $450,000 ($900,000 gross).

Overall, 83 yearlings sold for $28,965,000, up 19% from $24,425,000 during the first session in 2017. The $348,976 average was a 7% increase $325,667 at 2017’s opening session, and the $300,000 median tied the sale record set last year. The RNA rate was 22%.

The July Sale ended with flair Tuesday evening in Lexington, KY with the sales topper coming through the ring just one hip from the end. Inclusive of the late-session fireworks, The July Sale posted gains across the board, with significant increases in gross, average, and median over last year’s sale and the highest average since 2007. The gross and median were the highest since 2015.

A colt by Flatter (Hip 348), the penultimate yearling offered, drew the top bid of the day, hammering down to $520,000 late (video). Named Silvertonguedevil, Hip 348 was purchased by Al Rashid Stable from the consignment of Lane’s End, agent. The bay colt is the third foal out of the Curlin mare No Curfew, already the dam of two winners. No Curfew is a daughter of stakes winner Misty Hour, by Miswaki, making her a half-sister to seven winners, including Grade 2 winner India, who produced Group 1 winner Mozu Ascot, and stakes winner Pilfer, who produced Grade 1 winners To Honor and Serve and Angela Renee.

“Overall, [I’m] very pleased with the results today,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “There was tremendous competition for the quality offerings and, fortunately, we had plenty of quality offerings in the catalogue this year from start to finish.”

The top priced filly on the day was a daughter of Strong Mandate (Hip 231), purchased for $435,000 by Alex and Jo Ann Lieblong from the consignment of Denali Stud, agent (video). The filly, from her Grade 1 winning sire’s second crop, is out of Fly the Flag, a Giant’s Causeway half-sister to champion Storm Flag Flying. This well-bred filly is from the deep Phipps family of that mare, champion Personal Ensign, and Grade 1 winners My Flag, Miner’s Mark, Traditionally, and Mr Speaker.

As the first event on the yearling sales calendar, The July Sale often features top quality offerings by exciting new and young sires, and this year was no different. Buyers flocked to the pavilion to see the first selected offerings of nearly 30 first crop sires, including 2015 Triple Crown champion American Pharoah and multiple Grade 1 winner Constitution, both graduates of Fasig-Tipton selected yearling sales.

The leading first crop sire by average was Palace Malice, by Curlin. Of five yearlings offered by the 2013 Belmont S. (G1) winner, four sold for a total of $750,000, good for an average and median of $187,500. His 2016 stud fee was $20,000. Of Palace Malice yearlings sold, a filly out of Southern Belle (Hip 60) led the group, selling for $275,000 to Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners from the consignment of Select Sales, agent for Machmer Hall.

Among 14 second crop sires with yearlings catalogued, Will Take Charge led the charge with four yearlings sold from four offered grossing $930,000 and averaging $232,500, with a median of $240,000. Of that group, a filly out of La Belle (Hip 291) sold best, bringing $260,000 from Jay Em Ess Stable. Hip 291 was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent. Will Take Charge’s 2016 stud fee was $30,000.

“There was widespread competition throughout,” Browning noted. “I would characterize it as a very successful start to the 2018 yearling sales season.”

Overall, 196 yearlings changed hands for a total of $19,762,500, up 22.7% from last year when 172 horses sold for $16,107,000. The average rose 7.7% to $100,829 from $93,645, while the median increased 7.1% to $75,000 from $70,000 in 2017. The RNA rate was 30.7%. Full results are available online.

The July Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale closed Monday evening in Lexington, KY with the highest gross in the sale’s history.

My Miss Tapit (Hip 485), a stakes winner by three-time leading sire Tapit topped the sale when hammered down for $700,000 halfway through the session (video). The four-year-old filly was purchased by Breeze Easy from the consignment of ELiTE, agent. A stakes winner last year and third in the Princess Rooney S. (G2) on June 30, My Miss Tapit was previously campaigned by owner Mathis Stable and trainer Todd Pletcher. She has four wins and a third from six career starts with earnings of $132,555 to date. The sale topper eclipsed last year’s top price, when Grade 2 winner Distinta sold for $600,000.

“We had another successful horses of racing age exercise today,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “We had lots of horses that had lots of appeal domestically, and a few internationally. It really helps when you have consignments from racing operations such as Stonestreet, WinStar, the Phippses/Claiborne. We saw ELiTE’s introduction to the marketplace last year, which certainly added a jolt of energy and I think raised the bar in the horses of racing age sales arena. Taylor Made [has] always done a good job attracting top products, and other folks are beginning to see the virtues and reality and the strength of the marketplace.”

Phipps-bred Fire Away (Hip 443) was the top-selling male on the day, bringing $450,000 from Joseph Brocklebank, agent for Form Bloodstock (video). The six-year-old graded stakes winning War Front horse was consigned by Claiborne Farm, agent, making their first foray into the horses of racing age market a successful one. Claiborne also offered multiple graded stakes placed winner Revved Up (Hip 504), a five-year-old Candy Ride (ARG) horse out of champion Storm Flag Flying, who was purchased by Empire Thoroughbreds, agent for Kingsport Farm for $350,000. Both Fire Away and Revved Up are from the immediate family of champion Personal Ensign, Grade 1 winner My Flag, and Storm Flag Flying.

The top sophomore sold was Alter Moon (Hip 574), an impressive five-length stakes winner last time out at Gulfstream Park, a narrow runner up on the day when fetching a winning bid of $675,000 from Steven W. Young, agent (video). The three-year-old daughter of Alternation has a record of three wins and two seconds in seven career starts, with earnings to date of $128,255. She was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent.

Lady Lucy (Hip 465) was the top juvenile sold, bring $200,000 from Tom McCrocklin, agent. Offered by ELiTE, Lady Lucy broke her maiden in June on her second attempt and has earnings of $32,010 to date.

“I thought horses sold very fairly,” added Browning. “I think overall, consignors and buyers are happy with the level of commerce that took place.”

Overall, 100 horses sold for a total of $9,318,000, a 15.3% increase over $8,083,000 paid for 84 horses in 2017. The average was $93,180, while the median was $50,000. The RNA rate was 16.0%. Full results are available online.

For the fourth consecutive year, it was a seven-figure juvenile that topped the Midlantic Two-Year-Olds in Training sale.

The sale topper came towards the end of the second session. Hip 565, a colt by Medaglia d’Oro, lit up the board to the tune of $1,200,000 on Tuesday evening. Dennis O’Neill purchased the top-priced colt from the consignment of Hartley/de Renzo Thoroughbreds, agent. The colt is the first foal out of the graded stakes winning Tapit mare Tapicat. He worked an eighth in 10:1 during the Sunday session of the under tack show (video).

Four hips earlier, Hip 561, a colt by Union Rags, claimed the top spot briefly when sold to Michael Lund Peterson for $925,000 from the consignment of Bobby Dodd, agent. That colt worked an eighth in 10 flat on Sunday (video). Hip 561 represents a successful pinhook for his sellers, who purchased him for $90,000 at last year’s New York Bred Yearlings Sale.

Overall, 333 horses sold for a total of $24,868,500, good for an average of $74,680. The median increased 8.6% to $38,000 from $35,000 last year. Ninety-two horses sold for $100,000 or more, up from 78 six-figure sales in 2017.

A colt by More Than Ready shot to the lead late Monday afternoon and held on to top the first session of the Midlantic Two-Year-Olds in Training sale held in Timonium, MD.

Offered as Hip 204 by Hartley/de Renzo Thoroughbreds, the colt by More Than Ready was purchased by Mr. Ed Savant, Jr. for $750,000. Out of Canadian champion Embur’s Song, Hip 204 worked a co-fastest eighth in 10:1 during Wednesday’s under tack show (video).

First crop sire Mucho Macho Man sired the session’s second highest price. Hip 278, a colt by the 2013 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner out of Itsagiantcauseway, sold for $625,000 late in the session. He was purchased by Michael Lund Peterson from the consignment of Kirkwood Stables after working a quarter in a sharp 21:1 during the second session of the under tack show (video).

The session’s top filly was Hip 246, a daughter of Bernardini out of Great Look (a full sister to multiple graded stakes winner Winning Cause, a graduate of this sale in 2012). The filly was purchased by Charles Zacney from the consignment of Paul Sharp after working an eighth in 10:2 on Wednesday (video).

Overall, 171 horses sold for $12,066,000, including 46 six-figure sales. The average was $71,151 and the median was $36,000.

This year’s renewal of The Gulfstream Sale featured three seven-figure two-year-olds, including two which tied for the top spot when sold for $1,200,000 each. The auction also posted the second highest average and median in the sale’s history, and the highest in both categories since the move to Gulfstream Park four years ago.

Hip 9, a filly by Medaglia d’Oro, got the bidding started early when sold for $1,200,000 off a 10 flat work (video). By the sire of champion fillies Songbird and Rachel Alexandra, Hip 9 was purchased by Stonestreet Stables LLC from the consignment of Niall Brennan Stables, agent. The dark bay or brown filly is from the family of Grade 1 winning millionaire Dream Supreme and Grade 1 winning juvenile and proven sire Majestic Warrior.

Hip 77 // Fasig-Tipton Photo

Also dropping the hammer at $1,200,000 was Hip 77, a colt by popular juvenile sire Into Mischief. Hip 77, who also worked in 10 flat (video), was purchased by OXO Equine from the consignment of Eddie Woods, agent. The bay colt’s immediate family includes Grade 1 winners Irish Smoke and Book Review.

“It was an extremely strong marketplace at the upper end, said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “There were multiple bidders on the horses that performed well, vetted well, made good videos.”

Hip 31, a colt by the late Scat Daddy, came in a close third, selling for $1,000,000 to Todd Pletcher, agent for M V Magnier. Consigned by SGV Thoroughbreds, Hip 31 worked in 10 flat during Monday’s under tack show (video).

Another highlight of the sale was Hip 54, a filly from the second crop of Orb, who laid down a 21 flat quarter mile on the dirt during the under tack show (video), the fastest work at that distance since the sale relocated to Gulfstream Park in 2015. She was amply rewarded for that effort this evening when sold for $900,000 to Donato Lanni, agent for Baoma Corp. The speedster was consigned by Tom McCrocklin, agent.

Notably, 14 horses sold for $600,000 or more, up from eight in 2017. “[There was] great attendance and distribution of the buying population across the board,” Browning added. “All in all, I thought it was a strong horse sale… it bodes well for our next sale in Timonium in May.”

Overall, 59 two-year-olds sold for a total of $23,495,000, good for an average of $385,164, a 13.5% increase from $339,392 in 2017. The median was up 9.3% to $295,000 from $270,000 in 2017. Both the average and median were the second highest in this sale’s history, and the highest since the sale moved to Gulfstream Park in 2015.

The Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale ended Tuesday with gains across the board over last year’s edition and a decreased RNA rate. The sale was bolstered by 24 six-figure offerings, including yearlings, broodmares, and racing/broodmare prospects alike.

Girl Talk (Hip 574), a five-year-old daughter of Medaglia d’Oro, topped the session and the sale when sold for $310,000 to Rock Ridge Thoroughbreds as the last hip through the ring late Tuesday afternoon. The stakes placed winning daughter of Grade 2 winner One Caroline was offered as a racing and/or broodmare prospect by Denali Stud, agent for Ramona Bass LLC and Cheyenne Stables LLC.

“You can really sell a good horse right now,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “There’s a lot of demand and the one thing that continues to be encouraging at the upper end of the marketplace is the number of bidders on both the foals and the mares.”

Also selling well on the day was Tricky One (Hip 498), a four-year-old daughter of Unbridled’s Song. Offered as a broodmare prospect by Gainesway, that filly fetched $275,000 from buyer International Equities Holding. Tricky One is a winning daughter out of the stakes winning Pulpit mare Simplify and a half-sister to stakes winner Simple Surprise.

A Tiznow colt (Hip 419) topped the yearlings on offer when sold for $260,000 to Jack Johnston. Offered by Blake-Albina Thoroughbred Services, agent for C & S, Hip 419 is a half-brother to three winners, including two stakes horses, from the immediate family of Grade 1 winning millionaire Star Standard.

A yearling son of Into Mischief (Hip 368) from the immediate family of champion Cozzene also came in over the bicentennial mark, selling for $220,000 to De Meric Stables, agent from the consignment of Stuart Morris, agent.

Browning noted that outstanding conformation came at a “significant premium” during the two-day sale, regardless of whether the horse on offer was a yearling, broodmare, or racing/broodmare prospect.

Overall, 364 horses sold for a gross of $10,436,800, up 9.8% from last year’s total. The average was $28,673, a 5.9% increase from 2017, while the median was up 16.7% to $10,500. The RNA rate fell 2.8% to 22.7%.